Have you ever wondered why so much traditional porcelain dinnerware is made in blue and white? Mottahedeh has truly mastered this timeless look. The rich, saturated blue seen in this dinnerware is produced by using cobalt, a naturally occurring element.
Discovered in Persia, cobalt was first used by the Chinese before 1200 AD, and is seen in many old porcelains because it was one of the first colors to be fired successfully by ceramicists.
Despite its success as a popular color for dinnerware, cobalt remains a difficult color to use. It must be fired at extremely high temperatures, and achieves different hues depending on the temperature of the kiln. At a low firing, the color appears crisp and dark. At a much high firing, it has a pale grey look. Mottahedeh’s cobalt is in between these two firings, producing a brilliant blue with violet tones.
Derived from Chinese design, Blue Canton classifies the style of porcelain that was shipped from Asia to England, and then to the homes of the colonial elite in North America.
A symbol of strength and fortune in Chinese culture, the Blue Dragon in this collection captures the movement and versatility of this dynamic and mysterious creature.
Inspired by the 17th Century Ch’ing Dynasty porcelain, the Blue Lace Collection has stunning bands of 22K gold that beautifully complement all of Mottahedeh’s blue and white pieces.
A prized design since the Ming Dynasty, the Imperial Blue style is based on elaborate Chinese exports to Europe in the early 1700s.
With the delicate perfection of hand-brushed gold dust, the Chinoise Blue Collection stands out because of its sophisticated matte gold finish. Today the word, “Chinoiserie” refers to the decorative style used by Europeans to mimic the look of the original Chinese designs.
No two pieces of these Mottahedeh collections are alike, making each item completely unique. As these styles have been produced for hundreds of years by hand painters, the variation causes them to be perfect complements to any high-fire blue and white porcelain patterns. Mixing and matching these pieces brings them to life in an original way every time you set your table.
There are so many ways to display the beauty of these pieces, whether at your table or on your wall.
When these collections are combined with a touch of imagination, the possibilities become endless.
As Mildred Mottahedeh would quote an old Chinese saying, “The height of good taste is the simple appreciation of blue and white.”
For more inspiration, come see our blue and white Pinterest board.
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